Who is your next favorite?

[Moxie]

Inspired by El Dude's wondering of who would be his next favorite, once Roger hangs them up, I thought I'd start a poll, with options to add:

For those in a committed camp, or perhaps not even, who will be your next favorite, when the Big 4 hang them up?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Assuming Roger calls it a day before the other 3, I will probably be closer to Rafa. After the big 4 is gone, it looks bleak right now. Playing style wise, I like Dimitrov, but he has to seriously pick it up to be taken seriously. There are also the fellow Canucks Milos and Popsicle...

I have to admit , as big a tennis fan as I am , it will be extremely tough to adjust to life without Roger. He brought so much joy to my life in the last 12-13 years...

 

[Moxie]

I hear you, Murat. When Rafa hangs up his racquets, and (since my thesis is beyond the top 4, though Murray is my next,) I'm not sure who I'd back. I put in Christian Garin, because he's a young Chilean that Rafa and Toni have spotted. Or maybe Coric, if either catches fire. I'd love to see a phenom come up. Otherwise, I like Janowicz and Dolgopolov, but they'd better start inspiring me, soon.

 

[britbox]

Dimitrov.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Way too far away to decide. But I tend not to like players who copy the textbook. So someone revolutionary/original. Probably isn't on the tour yet.

 

[El Dude]

I voted for Grigor and Jerzy because they're my favorites on the list, but neither truly inspires me (yet). Two other names to keep an eye on are Nick Kyrgios and Jiri Vesely. Also, Gianluigi Quinzi, but mainly because I like his name.

 

[August]

Probably Janowicz or Dimitrov. Two talented youngsters but have differences in their game, Jerzy has more power in his game. Grigor's game with 1HBH is more beautiful but Jerzy's powerful game is so eye-catching.

And of course personality matters when it comes to favourites, I don't particularly like Ferrer's playing style but he's one of the nicest guys on the tour and that's why he's one of my favourites. Between JJ and GD, I prefer JJ's personality.

 

[tented]

Assuming Roger calls it a day before the other 3, I will probably be closer to Rafa. After the big 4 is gone, it looks bleak right now.

I have to admit , as big a tennis fan as I am , it will be extremely tough to adjust to life without Roger. He brought so much joy to my life in the last 12-13 years...

Reverse the names, and this is where I am. It will be bad enough when one goes, but when both are gone. Yikes!

A few years ago, I was excited about Dolgopolov, but he hasn't done much since. He's still only 24, but it doesn't look good.

If Dimitrov should get it together, he's the most likely candidate right now.

I haven't seen Christian Garin play a single point, but I am curious.

If nothing becomes of any of them, then I'm in the "Player to be Named Later" category.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

If Dimitrov's stamina improves heavily, he'll be the best of the new (but relatively late-blooming) generation. It will be interesting to see which turns the corner sooner, Dimitrov's stamina or Tomic's drive. Either way, Nadjokovic will probably remain top 2 for the next 4 years, especially if Murray's back keeps playing up. Dimitomic are probably 3+ years away from sniffing a slam title.

 

[Didi]

One thing I have learnt over time is that great players come and go and that there will always be a new one on the horizon, no matter how bleak or hopeless it currently might look. When the Borg-Mac rivarly was at its peak I was a teenager back then and I thought I would never ever see the likes of Mac again, nevermind having such a strong sympathy and emotional interest in any player ever again.
But ok, I was a kid, what the hell did I know?

Then came Edberg, Mecir and Stich, then came Ivanisevic who I didn't like at first but had grown to like and appreciate over time. Then of course Pete and later Kuerten, Haas, Safin and Coria.
When Pete called it a day, I thought now more than ever there is no way on earth I'm ever going to be involved in tennis this much again. Just no way. Guess what, there was a Swiss dude with mozart-like tennis just around the corner...

That said, when Roger calls it a day, I will stick to Murray, Djokovic, Del Potro and Tsonga and pray for the best. The sad thing is most of them will already be in or close to their 30s by then.

 

[shawnbm]

I have been talking Dimitrov for probably four years now, but I voted for the Pole--I think he has more upside because of his service, his aggressive style of play and the grit and desire. I think Grigor needs more conditioning and plain old desire to win--or not lose. If he gets it, then he will be formidable.

 

[nehmeth]

Player to be determined later.

As the four present players at the top pass on either from injury or age, I suppose some of the guys already named will step into the vacuum. Have yet to see true phenom talent mixed with sheer grit in any of them.

Dimi's tennis acumen is excellent, but guts and grit are either dormant or nonexistent. JJ's heart and fire is great, but he's technically deficient in several areas of his game. And the space between the ears that determines shot selection is confounding at times.

 

[DarthFed]

Jerzy and Dimitrov for me. I also like Novak though he is getting up there in years already.

 

[Riotbeard]

J.J. is the only one who serious interests me, but I also selected player to be named later.

 

[Iona16]

Inspired by El Dude's wondering of who would be his next favorite, once Roger hangs them up, I thought I'd start a poll, with options to add:

For those in a committed camp, or perhaps not even, who will be your next favorite, when the Big 4 hang them up?

Oh dear, I'm not sure I want to contemplate Andy retiring Him or Rafa.

So many of the players I like are of a similar age and will probably retire within a year or two of each other. Really sad to think of tennis without them.

The only player in the list that I really like watching is Dolgopolov. I love his quirky game but I'm sure I remember reading that he has health problems - the liver I think. His health can vary quite dramatically from day to day. I'm not sure he will ever sustain a certain level. A real shame.

To fully support a player I need to like more than their game. I love Andy's game, his passion and personality. I love his dry sense of humour - so typical of the Scots. Yep, the fact that's he's a Scot is the icing on the cake.

 

[zalvar]

It's so hard to like any up-and-comers because they just don't win enough. No more teenage phenoms as the older guys are getting fitter and fitter.

I like Jerzy, personally. He's exciting to watch and fun on court. He makes things happen. Dimitrov bores me ... he does have good shots but he's not aggressive enough when I've watched him. He gives me a Gasquet vibe, shot-maker but can't really sustain ... and stay too far back a lot.

I vote "Player to be named later" .. and jerzy

 

[Moxie]

Jerzy seems to be trending, followed closely by Dimitrov. I lean towards JJ, myself, because he does recall Safin.

Here's the current ranking for juniors, fyi:

http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/rankings/player-rankings.aspx

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I went for 3..borna coric, christian garin, and player to be named later..borna coric is likely to interest Federer fanatics and garin appeal more to nadal frenzy merchants..

by next favourite I was looking at folk not currently in the top100..still wanting grigor/jj/milos to move up.

 

[Moxie]

Milos is currently #11, JJ #14, Paire #28, Dimitrov #29, Dogopolov #38 and Tomic has dropped to #55.

Another one to watch is Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain. He's just got to a career high of #65, after only having cracked the top 200 in May. He's 22.

 

[tented]

I went for 3..borna coric, christian garin, and player to be named later..borna coric is likely to interest Federer fanatics and garin appeal more to nadal frenzy merchants..

by next favourite I was looking at folk not currently in the top100..still wanting grigor/jj/milos to move up.

That's an awful lot of grunting for Federer fans. :nono

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gZo6baHnzA[/video]